Darvin Ham reveals Jeanie Buss told him he's doing "a phenomenal job" with a "big hug"
LA Lakers coach Darvin Ham revealed that the franchise's controlling owner Jeanie Buss is pleased with his work. Ham took over the reins from Frank Vogel this past offseason. The Lakers are 13th in the Western Conference with a 20-25 season record.
However, Buss is "pleased" with Ham's job. Here's what the rookie coach said about his interaction with Buss after the Lakers' East Coast road trip ended on Jan. 2 (via The New York Times):
"She gave me a big hug and told me: ‘Hang in there, you’re doing a phenomenal job and things are going to get right. We’re going to start winning consistently, but Darvin, we’re totally happy with what you’re doing and you and your staff are doing an excellent job.' It was cool. It was really thoughtful."
The Lakers have looked unpredictable under Ham's rein. They have competed well against the top teams around the league but haven't been consistent. LA has struggled in crunch situations, especially over the past few games.
Despite leading by significant margins, the LA Lakers have seemed indecisive, resulting in majority of their losses. Darvin Ham has done a decent job across various aspects, like helping Russell Westbrook adapt to the system, getting Anthony Davis to his bubble form and maximizing the duo's output alongside LeBron James on the floor.
However, his in-game decisions have been questionable. Ham has frequently used three-guard and four-guard lineups, which has hampered the team's defensive efficiency.
Click here to read The New York Times report on Darvin Ham and the LA Lakers.
LA Lakers could be a highly efficient team under Darvin Ham with upgrades
The LA Lakers' most significant issue right now is their lack of shooting and size in the wings. They also need a consistent scorer outside of LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Darvin Ham's offensive system has helped the team generate better looks.
However, the Lakers aren't a legitimate threat on the perimeter to attract defensive attention. The Purple and Gold are the third-worst 3-point shooting team, converting 33.7% of their attempts from the arc. They averaged 10.3 3-pointers per game, the worst in the NBA.
Meanwhile, defensively, the LA Lakers have struggled again. They started the season as a top-five team in that aspect but are now 20th in defensive ratings. The LA Lakers need more size on the wings. Darvin Ham has had to play Wenyen Gabriel and Thomas Bryant in rotations with Anthony Davis sidelined. However, both aren't as reliable as Davis protecting the rim.
With the trade deadline nearing, the Lakers should look to make upgrades in these areas to have a better shot at closing out games.